The school was founded in 1948 as Mount of Praise Bible College, which met at the Mount of Praise Campground, where the Churches of Christ in Christian Union held annual revivalist camp meetings. The primary objective of the bible college was to train ministers for the Churches of Christ in Christian Union denomination. It later became Circleville Bible College. In 2006, the college changed its name to Ohio Christian University and received regional accreditation. Over the past several years, the University has seen tremendous growth. In Fall 2011, total enrollment reached 2,382 with about 600 on campus and the rest online or at satellite locations.
Presidents
Campus
The university sits on the outskirts of Circleville, Ohio. Classes are located in the Maxwell Center, Johnson Hall, and the science and logistics center. Students reside as freshmen in York Hall and Moore Hall. From there, they may choose to live in Lewis Moats Hall, New Hall, an offsite residence named Terrace, or townhouses. Since 2008, Maxwell Center has expanded by adding the science and logistics center and a student development center.
Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, though on February 27, 2020, the Higher Learning Commission because it is at risk of being out of compliance with the criteria for accreditation.
The Student Activities Council offers activities throughout the school year. Among the more popular activities are Friday Night Live, a live variety show written and performed by students. Performed in Detty Chapel, the night is usually hosted by an alumnus or faculty member. Another popular activity is midnight breakfast, an event scheduled at the beginning of final examinations week, catered by favorite staff and faculty. Chapel is housed in the Ministry & Performing Arts Center and is offered twice weekly. Students come to worship with a live student band and hear a message by the chaplain or special guest. There is a required number of times that every student must attend while enrolled at Ohio Christian. A Student Development Center houses dining facilities, the office of Student Development, the department of psychology, and several classrooms. In addition, there is a full Christian bookstore, a coffee shop, and an arcade. The Trailblazers, as the school's athletic teams are called, compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in the River States Conference. Men's sports include baseball, soccer, basketball, track and field, cross country, tennis, and golf. Women's sports include volleyball, basketball, soccer, cross country, softball, tennis, track and field, and golf.
Athletics
Ohio Christian was accepted by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for membership beginning with the 2015-16 school year. The athletic program has been a member of the River States Conference since that time.
